JEWISH REFUGEES

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20731, 15 February 1939, Page 7

JEWISH REFUGEES

REPORT BY COMMITTEE SOLUTION OF THE PROBLEM HELP FROM GOVERNMENTS (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, Feb. 13 The inter-Governmental Committee on Jewish Refugees has received & confidential report from Mr George Rublee on his recent conversation* in Berlin. An official statement say* the committee was also informed that Mr Rublee, whose tenure of office as Director has been of a temporary nature, was retiring, having carried out his mandate to discuss the problem of involuntary emigration from Germany with the German authorities. Mr Rublee emphasised that his retirement had no cause other than the completion of the specific task for which he was appointed. The committee heard statements from representatievs of the United States. France, the Netherlands, the Dominican Republic, Australian, Belgium and the United Kingdom concerning the contributions which their Governments are in a position to make toward a solution of the problem of involuntary emigration. Best Hopes for Re-settlement The chairman, the Earl of Winterton, drew attention to the large sums being raised in the United Kingdom in response to appeals on behalf of refugees, and laid stress upon the importance of responsible Jewish assistance. The best hopes for the resettlement of refugees lay in their re-training lor life as agriculturists. The United States delegate!, Mr Myron Taylor, 6aid his Government was convinced that the problem of involuntary emigration was not yet of such a size that the members involved could not be re-absorbed by other countries without doing injury to their own interests. Already the United States was taking nearly 30,000 refugees a year from Germany. Refugees for Australia In the course of the discussion, ft is understood, the Australian representative, Mr G. S. Duncan, intimated that the Commonwealth Government was willing to aceept 15,000 refugees over three years. The Dominican representative made known the willingness of his Government to envisage the reoeption of 10,000 refugees, including members of the professional classess.